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Fahrenheit 451 is a novel about a dystopian future where books are outlawed and firemen burn any house that contains them. The story is about suppressing ideas, and about how television destroys interest in reading literature.

I wanted to spread the book-burning message to the book itself. The book’s spine is screen-printed with a matchbook striking paper surface, so the book itself can be burned. (via)

Had fun designing a program for my Services for Children and Young Adults course—Superhero Academy. Kids who complete all the activities for the academy get a certificate of graduation and are inducted into the Library League of Justice. Lots of inspiration from otherprograms and themed birthdayparties!

I just discovered these cover redesigns that artist Amy Fleisher did for Penguin in 2010 in celebration for the company’s 75th anniversary. (I know I’m late, but whatever, this is my blog, I do what I want.) She also made custom plushies and USB drives based on the penguin designs. Well, except for the invisible penguin—too bad, because that would have been a neat trick. You can click through to check ’em out.

I always get confused about which Invisible Man people are referring to when they talk about the book—H.G. Well’s sci-fi classic about, well, exactly what you’d think, or Ralph Ellison’s novel about a disenfranchised black man and the issues facing African Americans in the 1930s-ish. (Yes, I know H.G. Well’s officially has a ‘The’ in front of it; somehow that never seems to change my reaction.) Obviously I realize quite quickly which book we’re talking about based on context, but there’s still that first half-second of confusion after whatever statement follows the words “Invisible Man.” Because somehow I always, always manage to assume we’re talking about the other book. Always.

It feels, not so much like catching the wrong end of a stick, more like getting poked in the eye by the stick and being momentarily half-blinded.

Check out these Pulp! the Classic imprints of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’!

Had to share. Discovered these editions in a bookstore the other day—they are gorgeous in person. Finally, the inevitable combination of two of my great loves; amazing/terrible pulp art and classic literature.